Timeline

1992 – Willoughby Council resolves to install floodlights and a synthetic playing surface. Residents advised seven days prior to commencement of work. Residents successfully protest against the proposal and tit is withdrawn

pre December 2017 – Willoughby Council officers participate in the Northern Sydney Organisation of Councils (NSROC) review of sporting facilities including proposing the install of floodlights on the OH Reid Oval.

March 2018 – Willoughby City Sports_Facilities_Plan_of_Management_contains the following: “Conversion of sportsground surfaces from grass to synthetic, conversion of single-use court surfaces to multi-use so they can be used as alternative sites for training, and installation of lights at currently unlit grounds are included in Council’s capital works programs to help maximise access to and use of existing facilities“.

It is understood that the process will proceed via the following steps:

Early 2019 – the OH Reid Draft Master Plan (Reserve Action Plan) will be exhibited for comment. Note: It appears that the comments on the March 2018 Reserve Action Pln will feed into the Draft Master Plan.

April – June 2019 – The Draft Master Plan and Consultation Report will be presented to Council.

DA or REF

If the Council decides to proceed with the installation of floodlights it has the option to bypass the development Application process which includes the further opportunity for community comment. Instead it can use State Environmental Planning Policy Infrastructure (2007). This does not require the undertaking of a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Rather Council can proceed via a Review of Environmental Factors (REF). An EIS is undertaken by external consultants as part of a DA process (which we believe would involve community consultation., where as a REF is undertaken by Council Officers internally with no public consultation. We have evidence that the Officers will be recommending the application proceed via an REF (even though the consultation on the Master Plan has not been undertaken).